Device for the cleaning of grooved rails



Feb. 5, 1935.

G. BJSABELLA DEVICE FOR THE CLEANING 0F GROOVED RAILS Filed June 14, 1933 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 1,990,029 DEVICE FOR runv CLEANING F GROOVED Y RAILS Gioachino Benve'nuto Isabella, Turin, Italy Application June 14, 1933, Serial No. 675,843 g e In Italy July 7, 1932 I 7 cla ms. (01. 37-36 This invention relates to a device for the cleaning ofgrooved rails.

The cleaning of grooved rails for city trams is ordinarily effected by hand by means of a spade,

a narrow end portion of which penetrates intothe operation of cleaningthe rail is slow and costly. The object of the present invention is a device for attachment to the vehicle running on the rail for the purpose of replacing the hand method of cleaning rails. by a mechanical operation which ensures greaterspeed and economy.

The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically a construction of the object of the invention l Figures 1 and'2 show the-:device in elevation and inplan view, respectively,

Figures 3 and 4 show in :detailand on a larger scale the cleaning spade-in elevation and plan view, respectively. l I

A further object of this invention is to avoid any improper working and-to provide acleaning device adapted to be coupled with the lubricating device as disclosed by my United States Patent No. 1,885,726, dated 21st August 1930.

The apparatus according to this invention comprises a rotating shaft 1 parallel to the axles of the wheels, supported from the frame (not shown) and connected to the nearest axle 2 by means of toothed wheels 3 and 4 and a sprocket chain 5. The wheel 3 is keyed on the shaft 1, and the wheel 4 is carried by the movable sleeve 6 of a clutch coupling, the other member 7 of which is keyed on the axle 2. The clutch coupling is operated by means of a known device by the drivers of the vehicle. The shaft 1 transmits motion to the parallel shaft 8 by means of a reducing gearing 9, 10; the shaft 8 carries at each end, above the rails, the friction disc 11 against the surfaces of which the driven discs 12 press under the action of springs 13 mounted on bolts 14 which hold together the discs 12, the tension of the springs being adjustable by means of wing nuts.

Each disc 12 carries an arm 15 connected by a helical spring 16 to the rod 17 to the end of which is fixed the cleaning spade, the spring 16 being sufficiently rigid to work as a flexible joint between the arm and the rod.

The rod is urged upwardly by a spring 18 anchored to the frame of thevehicle (not shown) in such a manner that the unit 12-15-16-17 formed by the two rail cleaners when stationary forms a be am subject to the action of thetwo springs 18. j e

Each rod 17 (Figures 3 and 4) is fashioned at its outer end to a vertical strap 19 holding the spade 20 carried'in an inclinedposition'by the swinging member 21 hinged to the rod; the swinging member 21 carrying thespade isunder the action of the spring 22 anchored at one end to the said member and at its other end to the rod. The spade works like a scraper in the groove of the rail: It can be extended more orless into the groove. by means of the holes 20' and the corresponding pin by which it is fixed to the swinging member 21. 1 v

J Figure 3 shows the rail cleaner in its working position: A sloping surface 23 of asbestos or other suitable material fixedto an extension 2a of the strap 19, slides on the outer rail head and conveys the dirt raised up by the scraper 20 towards theinside of, the tr ack, for which purpose an opening '19 is bored oneach portion of the strap 19-for facilitating the passage of the dirt from the outsideto the inside of the track. 7 The working of the device is as follows: normally the beam carrying the scrapers is horizontal. To put it into action the driver of the vehicle has only to connect, by means of a known control, the clutch coupling 6-7 Without worrying about the direction of running of the vehicle. The axle 2 then sets in rotation the shaft 1 and this in turn the shaft 8 of the driving friction discs 11.

The driven discs 12 are then urged in the direction of rotation of the discs 11 and against the action of the spring 18 incline the beam thus bringing the rear scraper 20 into operation in the groove of the rail R, (in the direction of running). Any obstruction of the rail due to foreign bodies (for example stones) wedged in the groove momentarily raises the scraper against the action of the spring 22; the fitting of the arm 15-16-17 to the curves, points, etc., is obtained by means of the flexible joint constituted by the spring 16, which works moreover as a shock absorber.

The shaft 8 of the driving discs rotates at a relatively small speed to avoid over-heating of the friction surfaces, which are moreover coated with a suitable material for this purpose.

The shaft 8 may be the driving shaft of a device which delivers grease to the rails, for example of the type described in my United States PATENT OFFICE:

Patent No. 1,885,726, or of any other device or mechanism.

The details of construction may be varied within wide limits from those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for cleaning grooved rails for use on a tramway or similar vehicle, comprising in combination beams mounted capable of oscillating on the vehicle above each rail, scraper mem bers at the ends of each beam and coupling means between an axle of said vehicle and said beams, by means of which said beams are inclined to one side or the other, respectively, automatically according to the direction of running of the vehicle, in order to bring into operative position one of said scrapers.

2. A device for cleaning grooved rails "for-use on a tramway or similar vehicle comprising in combination, beams mounted capable of oscillating on the vehicle above each rail, scraper members at the ends of each beam, spring means tending to hold said beams in their inoperative position and means actuated by the vehicle for inclining said beams in one direction or the other, respectively, according to the direction of running of the vehicle, for bringing one or the other scraper respectively into operative position.

3. A device'for cleaning grooved rails for use on a tramway or similar vehicle, comprising in combination, beams having flexible-arms mounted capable of swinging on the'vehicle' above each rail, scraper members at the ends of each beam and coupling means between an axle of said vehicle and said beams, by means of which said beams are inclined to one side or the other automatically according'to the direction of running of the vehicle, for bringing into the operative position one of the said scrapers. V

4. A device for cleaning groovedrails for use on a tramway or similar vehicle comprising-in combination a transverse shaft rotatably mounted on the vehicle, beams having flexible arms and loosely mounted on said shaft above each rail, scraper members at the ends of each beam, spring means for holding said-beams in the inoperative position, frictional driving members keyed on said shaft and frictionally cooperating with said beams, and means for transmitting the rotational movement from an axle of said vehicle to said frictional driving members.

5. A device for cleaning grooved rails for use on a tramway or similar vehicle comprising in combination beamshaving flexible arms mounted capable of swinging on the vehicle above each rail, scraper members mounted capable of swinging at the ends of each beam, spring members for maintaining said scraper members in their operative position, spring means tending to maintain said beams in their position of rest, and

means actuated by the vehicle for inclining said beams to one side or the other, respectively,

acc'ordingto'the direction of running for bringing one of the said scrapers into operative position.

6. A device for cleaning grooved rails for use on atr-a'mway or similar vehicle, comprising in combination, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted on "the vehicle, beams having flexible arms and mounted loosely on said shaft above each rail, scraper members retractably mounted at the ends of each beam, spring members for maintaining said scraper members in their operative position, means tending to maintain said beams intheir position of rest, frictional driving members keyed on said shaft and 'frictionally cooperating withsaid beams and means foritransmitting the ."rotationalmovement from one axle of said vehicle to said frictional driving members.

7. Ardevice for cleaning grooved rails for use one. tramway or similar vehicle comprising in combination'a transverse shaft rotatably mountedonthevehicle, beams loosely mounted'on said shaft above :each rail, scraper members at the ends-of'each beam, .springmeans for holding said beams in the inoperative position, frictional driving members keyed on (said shaft and frictionally cooperating with said beams, and means for transmitting therotational movement from an axle ofsaid vehicle to said frictional driving members.

GIOACHINO BENVENUTO ISABELLA. 

